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90h825
what is the difference between a Sheriffs department and a Police department? They both seem to do the same thing depending on where you live.
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "e2qbrqd", "e2qg18t", "e2qc8zl" ]
[ "In the US? Sheriffs work for a county. Police work for a city or town. State troopers work for a state." ]
[ 35 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
lkfbnh
How does stomach create noises?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gnjnj0r", "gnjfj5h", "gnjfo8o", "gnk9yee", "gnk1dxf" ]
[ "To simplify this a lot, it's pretty much like internal farts?" ]
[ 163 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
f87i10
How do they supply hot tap water in whole country ?
I am currently in Russia and there is hot water supply in every building. I can see the pipes which contain the hot water but what is the source ?
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "fijms2k", "fijkf7b", "fijml94", "fijjzrh" ]
[ "I believe the term you're looking for is district heating (DH). It is used to supply a large amount of buildings with hot water by heating the water in combined heat and power (CHP) stations or thermal power stations. In some countries or especially in rural areas district heating isn't really used, but it's common in cold, densely populated areas where the need for heat is large. So the heat is usually generated by burning coal, biomass, natural gas or other fuels with different methods, and the released heat is captured to water and/or steam. If it's a CHP plant, part of the heat and energy is extracted as electricity in steam turbines. Most of the remaining heat is transferred to DH system in heat exchangers. DH system is basically just a huge system of insulated pipelines with some pumps to keep the water flowing. The pipeline is connected to buildings, where there is a separate heat exchanger that takes heat from the DH water to your domestic hot water, that you'd get from your tap. Domestic water is just clean, cold water coming from your local water supply, and the hot water is the same water but just heated. ELI5 explanation: power plants heat water in a water circulation system, and your house takes part of that heat." ]
[ 15 ]
[ [], [], [ "https://imgur.com/krJxPLy" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
o5gbfb
How does heterochromia affect offspring eye color?
Hey there, I was just watching a YouTube video explaining the chances/possible out comes of children’s eye color based on their parents. It said if one parent has green and the other brown the chance for blue eyes is around 12% however all my siblings and I have blue eyes. My mother has green eyes while my father has one brown and one green. I tried googling but got no answers. So does his heterochromia affect eye color probability different or is it the same chances and they just got “lucky”? Thank you!
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "h2mqwo7" ]
[ "Heterochromia iridium is not a singular disorder. It is just a description of a symptom that may present as a result of many different syndromes; whether [congenital or acquired]( URL_0 ). With Heterochromia iridium, there is an affected eye that usually does not reflect the genetics of the person, the color is simply caused by the condition itself. It's impossible to be sure due to not knowing the specifics of your fathers condition, but it's likely that your father has a recessive blue allele. This would mean that likely both your mother and father have a recessive blue allele and a dominant brown/green allele, thus giving a 25% chance for blue eyes in their children." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterochromia_iridum#Classification" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
a9jvbk
Why are more common batteries non-rechargeable? What about them makes them more popular then rechargeable batteries?
From my limited understanding of electronics, the simplest forms of batteries (including the ones you can make in your second grade physics kit from penny's and cloth) are meant to be changed and discharged. What makes common disposable batteries different/advantageous?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "eck03ib", "eck06bz", "eck1ncj", "eck8p56" ]
[ "Batteries convert chemical potential into electrical current. With rechargeable batteries, if you reverse the flow of current then the chemical reaction also runs in reverse. Alkaline batteries (the most common non-rechargeables) don't fully reverse their chemical reaction when you try to charge them. This makes them significantly less efficient to charge, which causes heat and can cause buildup of hydrogen gas. Since most batteries are sealed, a build of hydrogen gas can caused them to rupture and explode. The reason they're more popular than rechargeables is that they are significantly less expensive. Also, they're better at holding their charge when not in use. This is important for very low usage scenarios like your remote control." ]
[ 14 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
72rqds
Why is the spinal cord so difficult to attach?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dnkwf28" ]
[ "If you mean \"**re-**attach\", as in re-connecting the spinal cord after it's been severed as a result of some trauma, the answer is that the spinal cord is basically just a big bundle of nerves. If it gets severed, that's a problem. *Physically* stitching the nerves back together isn't *that* difficult (though there are so *many* nerves in the spinal cord that this is impractical), but that's not good enough. It'd be like breaking a circuit board for your computer in half and taping it back together. Sure, the relevant parts are now physically connected again, but that doesn't actually restore the severed circuits. In particular, nerves tend to form scars at the points where they're cut (called \"neuromas,\" though not all neuromas are traumatic in origin). Neuromas don't transmit nerve impulses very well, if at all, so even if you put the nerve itself back together, the scar is still a problem." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8cdhdj
Why is the US healthcare system so poor compared to i.e. Germany or the UK? What prevents them from essentially just copying a system that is proven to work elsewhere?
People still tell stories all the time of how their lives were ruined by medical bills. What are the downsides to better healthcare, like the UK NHS or the German Krankenkasse? If systems like these have proven themselves why are they not simply taken up by other countries (not just the US, but it's probably the biggest example of what I'm referring to)? Why does it work in the UK and Germany but doesn't in the US?
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dxe5ed1", "dxe3kyh" ]
[ "\"Copying the system\" is difficult for 2 unrelated reasons: * A new system won't just affect the population, it would affect the health care workers (doctors, etc.) and institutions (hospitals, insurance companies, etc.), and if the changes are dramatic, they can result in \"outages\" so to speak. Imagine a scenario where the doctors completely lose the way they are currently paid, and must seek new ways / new employment according to some new laws that just got passed. * Reforms are passed through the current voting system, and may be vetoed or voted down for various reasons... Politics isn't always about what's best for the populace, and sometimes the populace as a whole doesn't know what's best for it. I don't want to get into a discussion about politics; it's a hot topic that's best avoided here. As far as \"good\" vs. \"poor\" health care, the UK system is paid via taxes, whereas the US system is paid via subscriptions for \"insurance.\" In the UK, citizens who work pay taxes, and thus pay for health care for themselves AND for those who are unemployed - this works very well if the unemployment rate is low. In the US, citizens who work generally have access to company-sponsored insurance plans, and, since the ACA reform, the unemployed can also have access to similar plans via the government, but it's not free - they must pay for the \"insurance\" subscription, and this is difficult when you don't have a job. Otherwise, I'm not sure about other issues, such as the availability of \"basic\" healthcare vs. the availability of \"specialist\" or \"cutting edge\" procedures. Generally, tax-based systems make the \"basic\" procedures free and very easy to get, but possibly specialists or cutting edge procedures are difficult to schedule or find. Whereas pay-as-needed or insurance systems have basic procedure costs that are too high for the unemployed or the poor, but specialists are more available if you have the insurance subscription. Looking at the statistics (source:Google) for liver transplants, which at $700,000 would fit in the \"lives were ruined by medical bills\" category: * 6000 liver transplants are performed in the US per year, 750 in the UK * Population: 325 million in US, 65 million in UK. Thus, US performs 63% more transplants per capita than UK. 63% more lives (financially) ruined, or 63% more patient lives saved, you can look at it both ways. But it's difficult to conclude whether this is from the availability of transplant doctors, or from the availability of donors, or from people on the waiting list being rejected / approved using different criteria between the two countries, etc.." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ab9a6n
How much of an effect do daily vitamins have on someone? Is it ever noticeable?
I take one of those daily vitamin/calcium tablets every day cuz I'm sort of a picky eater and I just keep wondering to myself how much they really even do cuz it kinda seems like they don't do anything.
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ecygni1", "ecyok7w", "ecz0iwe", "ecz4fui", "ecz6pyi", "ecyl8xp" ]
[ "Assuming you're eating a reasonably decent variety and quantity of food, and have no other outstanding medical issues that would require a supplement, they don't do all that much. If your diet is unusually narrow or light, then they'll smooth things over a bit (i.e. you won't get healthier, but you won't get sick either). It's mostly a form of preventative medicine that covers gaps left by a bad diet to stop you from developing issues in the first place." ]
[ 73 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6x6s1y
How do we have rhythm?
How can someone tap their foot to a best for example with little to no thought? And how come some people have a terrible sense of rhythm?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dmdyrt8" ]
[ "Rhythm is innate in life. The first rhythm is the rhythm of your mother's heartbeat in the womb. Then it's your own heartbeat and pulse. You need rhythm in your walk (otherwise, you're limping). If you walk while stomping your feet, you're creating a percussive beat. Then get 3 people doing the same thing, and you're on your way to music and dance. Your speech has rhythm. The whole \"iambic pentameter\" thing is a good example for English - da DA da DA da DA da DA da DA. I don't anything about other languages, so I'm not going to speculate. I've never met a child who doesn't have a sense of rhythm. I have my own thoughts about why some adults \"lose\" that sense, but I'm not going to speculate here." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
n3mmk4
can a airplane pilot put the plane in autopilot the whole time they fly?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gwqq3d2", "gwqqgiq", "gwqq9md" ]
[ "At the very least, takeoffs would still be flown by hand, since (to my knowledge) many jet's autopilots won't engage unless you are on a somewhat stable heading and are closely trimmed (flight controls set so that minimal yoke/sidestick pressure is needed to maintain the current path) to your current flight path. Landings are also often flown by hand after a certain altitude, since automated landings can be very firm and not every runway and plane is certified for automated landings down to touchdown." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ips68v
. What decides an animals longevity as for as mortality? A horse, way stronger and healthier than most humans, live only to around 20 to 30 years, yet the steady rate when humans expire is around 70 to 80 years. How does this work?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g4logr0" ]
[ "The faster a speices cells divide, the longevity of their organ tissue, the efficiency of their kidneys and liver, and their diet and lifestyle all factor into age. Human tissue is pretty long lasting compared to most species, as cells divide DNA is slowly broken down, until cancer or organ failure or a dozen other diseases set in." ]
[ 19 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
776v4d
How does clearing browser cache fix a lot of website issues?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dojhexd" ]
[ "In the case of a web browser, sometimes temp files and cookies are not current, or even become corrupted. Either way, if changes were made in the browser when trying to load, if the browser is attempting to use what is cached and it is conflicting with what the website currently has, then it can load screwy or not load at all. So clearing it forces the the browser to load it as if it were visiting the page for the first time. Also to note, sites that use a page count, such as newspapers who allow a limited number of articles to be read without a subscription, use cookies and temp files to show that this browser/pc has read x-number of articles, which would cause it to load that annoying screen prompting you to log in or subscribe. Clearing the cookies removes that reference point." ]
[ 13 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
lte4rn
How does the "second wind" works?
I was wondering how exactly does this "second wind" works? Does your body gets a random boost of energy or what?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "goxho3d", "goxfuj2" ]
[ "Somewhere deep inside your brain the rocky theme starts playing. Your goal becomes your only focus as tunnel vision takes over. The montage begins. The chaos emeralds circle your body. You're now super sonic and have the ability to run an extra bit." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_wind" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
fhiu2t
How do humans learn the meaning of words that aren't nouns?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "fkbg42o", "fkc0564", "fkby0vw", "fkc6h0o" ]
[ "Language isn't learned, initially, by describing the meaning of the words. Language is learned by associating of the sounds of the words with the thing they describe. As you note, this is rather straightforward with simple objects. But humans are capable of abstract thought and learning from context and use. Plenty of verbs and adverbs are very physical and plenty of verbs and adverbs are closely related to nouns. Consider: \"The fast car\" (fast = adjective) vs \"The car is moving fast\" (fast = adverb)." ]
[ 377 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cxcer
How do animals with white coloring on their bodies keep from permanently staining their fur?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dhy3a23" ]
[ "1) There's not a lot of common, naturally-occurring things that stain hair that readily. We need strong artificial chemicals to do it to our own hair. 2) The fur keeps growing. If you bleached your hair blonde, it wouldn't be permanent. Soon enough you'll grow more new hair." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8155oh
Why rich countries have a higher cancer rater than poor ones ?
[source]( URL_0 )
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dv0j847", "dv0jbaw", "dv0i06o", "dv0oas2", "dv0xwrr", "dv0kxge" ]
[ "Survivor(ship) bias. Even with age correction, one of the most likely explanations is that survivor bias spans all age groups. In a less developed country with limited access to healthcare, everyday infections, diseases, and ailments in general become much more severe. Still, there are other factors that contribute to differences in cancer incidence rate. These are, but are not limited to, regional diet (particularly diets that are high in anti-oxidants and micronutrients), genetics and epigenetics, lifestyle, and the prevalence/absence of certain occupational hazards. Also it should be mentioned that the method and frequency of detection of said cancers may not be on equal footing. I will also mention that some people believe the higher incidence rate is linked with obesity, diets with copious amounts of processed food, and higher substance abuse." ]
[ 261 ]
[ [], [], [], [ "https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet" ], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6k6vy1
How did Japan develop this multifaceted culture; where on one hand it is steeped in the deepest of traditions dating back thousands of years; on the other it is a society in a continual state of rapid flux, with a very modern take on everyday problems?
tl;dr : A land known for both the exquisite craftsmanship of Katanas (Samurai swords) and Robots, just how?
Culture
explainlikeimfive
[ "djjsm88", "djk6q1n" ]
[ "One thing I know is that the US influenced Japan culture quite a bit after WWII. As you should know, Japan was forbidden to have a military. That was Article 9. It offered Japan \"a way of retaining a positive sense of uniqueness in defeat\". Japan modernized quite a bit and at a rapid pace post-WWII. I don't remember the exact details as it was a long time ago. The book I learned this from in college was called \"Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of WWII\" by John Dower." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
991jfh
Why can we make 911 calls literally anywhere regardless of service but can't make regular calls?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "e4k8hkr", "e4kgvii" ]
[ "The simple answer is that 911 calls are very, very important. So important, in fact, that all the cell providers have agreed with authorities to let any phone through that needs to make an emergency call. No matter if it's their customer or not. Because it's one of those times when who you are paying your bill to shouldn't really matter. Emergency is emergency, and that is that." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
byozns
Why street lights during night time are warm orange colored and not white lights? Won't having white lights seem more like daylight?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "eqjzyc6", "eqk5ei2", "eqk45t5", "eqknk04", "eqktg96" ]
[ "The yellow light comes from Sodium lamps. It's just how they glow for chemical reasons. More modern street lights are LEDs and more white to light-blue. They're also brighter and more directed instead of glowing in all directions." ]
[ 41 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
kvqub5
The color of an object is determined by how it absorbs/reflects light. But why, exactly?
I understand that it has to do with which wavelengths the material absorbs (and turns into thermal energy?). The one(s) that it doesn't absorb, is the color we actually see. But what physical property determines, which material can absorb which wavelength?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "gizsyhb", "gizt863", "gizttay", "gizt9c7", "giztnn9" ]
[ "each element has has electrons on shells/layers, and those electrons constantly absorb energy and release it, depending on the vibration frequency and the number of electrons a atom has, the energy is released in different frequencies, some of those light. also molecules have Intramolecular bonds which vibrate in different frequencies that absorb light in those frequencies. therefore giving off a color in according to that. A very interesting topic in this regard is transition metals, you have metals like Chromium that have a whole range of colours depending on the oxidation state the metal is in, yellow, red, purple, and its non oxidized silver like color." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
edydv3
when we are looking through glass how do our eyes know when to focus beyond it and when to focus on the small particles on the glass
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fbm4o44" ]
[ "You can control that. However, your lense muscles are tensed way harder when looking at something closer. So it'll be more natural/easier to look through it and see what's behind." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
5lyfmr
Why do we expect technologically advanced extraterrestrial life to broadcast radio signals into space?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dbzfws2" ]
[ "Of all the artificial methods we know to transmit information through a vacuum, the electromagnetic spectrum is pretty much what we can both send and receive; there may be other theoretical concepts, but radio, and light, and various other points along the electromagnetic spectrum are what we have to work with. It's not because we think aliens will use it, it's because it's what we can currently work with that isn't naturally occurring that is most likely for aliens to be using. So, you are correct: absence of data doesn't prove aliens do not exist, but in cases like this you can't prove a negative as you're noting, so people who say this is proof that aliens do not exist are making insubstantiated claims. It doesn't prove they're wrong, either, it means they're using the wrong info to reach the conclusion." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dr7n5
what exactly is a jihiadi? Or jihadist?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "di4rk0u", "di4rvy9" ]
[ "A jihad basically translates to \"struggle\". This might for example be used to refer to a physical struggle against those seen as enemies of Islam, or it might be the internal struggle of someone against sin. So you might have a jihad against alcoholism, or to lose weight, instead of always thinking of jihad as meaning bombing children's buses. Our current media almost universally uses the term to refer to terrorists though, which can be disturbing to Muslims who understand the word to simply mean a general striving or struggle for anything." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ag8c6f
How do multiple programmers work on a game/project together? Do they each work on completely different parts or do they have to communicate on what they've been doing and what needs to be done?
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "ee48auw", "ee48lxm", "ee4aaqh", "ee4j1js" ]
[ "Planning, documenting code, and compartmentalizing tasks. Or, in lots of cases, it's just total chaos." ]
[ 70 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
adk6wr
Why do animals have an instinct not to die, if they don’t even know what happens after death.
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "edhpjec", "edho1el", "edhng0t" ]
[ "Evolution. A mother bear gives birth to two cubs. One (due to totally random gene combination) is not afraid of death, and dies early on. Second (again, due to totally random gene combination) is afraid of death, and lives a long life, mating with some females and becoming father of more cubs. The first \"mutation\" was less optimised for survival, and produced less offspring than second \"mutation\". Thus second version is more likely to appear in future cubs (because it managed to actually produce those cubs). So over many many many many many generations, entities with instinct of self-preservation were more successful at survival, and thus at propagation, and so became dominant." ]
[ 25 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
79uiee
Zoning out while driving and not killing anyone
Repost
explainlikeimfive
[ "dp4zb32", "dp573jn", "dp4yjfd" ]
[ "You go into autopilot, your brain doesn't take logs unless something interesting occurs, but while you're in autopilot you are still actively scanning the road and controlling the car and responding to routine inputs(stop signs, road markings, corners in the road) Once you do a task enough your brain makes an autopilot routine for it, this is why you can walk and chew gum at the same time. Why you can have a deep conversation with someone and walk up a flight of stairs. Walking has been fully automated since you were young, if you think about how you're walking up the stairs it'll be awkward. While you may not remember paying attention it doesn't mean that your brain wasn't paying attention. It just means that this morning's commute was completely uneventful" ]
[ 28 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6wacf6
why are the primary colours red, blue, yellow when they are not combinations for both additive and subtractive colour theories (rgb and cmy)?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dm6oake", "dm6lvbp" ]
[ "For additive colours the primaries are red, green and blue. Red plus green makes yellow; red plus blue makes magenta; and green plus blue makes cyan. For subtractive colours the primaries are yellow, cyan and magenta. Yellow plus cyan makes green; yellow plus magenta makes red; and cyan plus magenta makes blue. School teachers and others that teach young children that the primaries are red, yellow and blue are talking about subtractive colours. They don't want to be using strange words like cyan and magenta so they say blue and red instead, even though this is technically incorrect. Often they do this without even being aware of the issue themselves." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
621v2b
Why do weed and alcohol cause 'the munchies'?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dfj2ye0", "dfj1cm1", "dfjarij" ]
[ "Your brain in both situations: No weed/booze, \"I don't really need anything too sweet or salty, just a little hungry.\" On Weed/Booze, \"Lowered inhibitions mean i don't care what goes in me because I'm only thinking about now, so yes, I'll take the chocolate covered chocolate with dipping chocolate.\" Also Cannabinoid receptors, and booze is technically a light poison and your body instinctively craves food to soak up said poison and to return electrolytes/nutrients to your body." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
gi4jn5
Why do we rub our eyes when we're tired?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fqck7q3" ]
[ "When you’re tired your eyes are usually dry, rubbing them stimulates the glands that release fluid. You also get droopy eyes when tired and the physical stimulation helps the muscles keep them open. Finally there’s also a nerve connection between your eye muscles and heart that is stimulated by rubbing your eyes. So there’s a few reasons." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
mfq2gb
Are LEDs of varying color doped to get a certain frequency or do they use dyed plastic heads to get the color?
Do they dope the silicon with various element to get the bandgap which matches with the wavelength the color, or do they just dye a transparent LED head (or whatever it is called) and use a single frequency?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gsoshex", "gsoru2i" ]
[ "Yep, the use different materials to get a specific frequency, you’ll sometimes see blue LEDs called “gallium nitride” because that’s what they use to make them. However white LEDs use just blue LEDs, but put a layer of phosphor on top in order to get all the colors of white light in a spectrum. There are some rare colored LEDs that use the same method as white ones, but with a colored phosphor instead for a less monochromatic light" ]
[ 37 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8m2wd9
In Sweden i see the moon day and night. Since the moon is smaller than our Earth, how is it possible that the Moon is visible on the other side of Earth aswell? (Like in America)
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dzkcf73" ]
[ "You don't see it *all* day and *all* night. On any given day, it is roughly in the same position relative to Earth (changing by only 1/28th of a rotation each day). When your location on Earth is facing the moon, you'll see it. When your location on Earth is facing *away* from the moon, you will not. At times when it's between the Earth and the sun, you'll see it during the day (though you're mostly looking at the dark side so its smaller and less visible). At times when it's \"behind\" the Earth and opposite the sun, you'll see it at night. Other times it's \"next to\" the Earth (compared to the sun) so you can see it for part of the day and part of the night. But never for all day and all night-- unless you're at an extreme Northern or Southern location. At these same times in these same places, neither the sun or moon would disappear." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
intkit
why are we going back to capsules for manned space flight?
I would have thought after the space shuttle we would move on the another space plane like the x-33 or dreamchaser. Why did we go back to capsules?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g49mwtr", "g49n0xe" ]
[ "Capsules are the most efficient way to get people and things into space. They don't take up any more space or weight than they need to, and fit nicely on top of a rocket in an aerodynamic way. Airplane based designs are much much heavier, and almost all of that extra weight is purely so it can function as an aircraft in the atmosphere which is exactly the place where we don't spend much time, so it's extra useless weight 99% of the time, and extra useless weight is the mortal enemy of rockets. It's perfectly fine to land under parachute in the ocean and get picked up by a boat. It's not that much more helpful to land on a runway, especially when it means you're lugging around a whole airplane on your back the whole time to facilitate that goal." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9b80ex
Why does water make materials more abrasive?
I was moving building sand at work and it wasn't that bad when it was dry bit when it started raining the sand became more abrasive and rough to the touch. Why is this?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "e511j0g" ]
[ "Water is very sticky due to the polar nature of its molecule, so it tends to cling to itself and to other surfaces. In the case of sand it would permeate all the empty spaces and cause all the individual sand grains to stick together. Therefore more resistance and more friction is experienced when you attempt to push your hand through." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
89tjpw
How do we remember things and forget things?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dwtfpqh" ]
[ "I'll answer this from a neuronal perspective, since that sounds like the sort of thing you're asking. Memory is located throughout the brain, but it ultimately exists as connections between neurons. By changing the strength of connections between neurons, you can effectively strengthen or weaken memories. Memories are formed through a process called \"long-term potentiation\". So briefly, I'll talk about how a neuron is laid out. Take a look at [this]( URL_0 ) picture. The dendrites of a neuron are basically where it receives information. It then \"transmits\" this information down the axon, and the axon terminals are \"synapsed\" with the dendrites of another neuron. Basically, there's a tiny gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of the \"downstream\" neuron called the synaptic cleft. Once an electrical signal goes down the axon of the \"upstream\" neuron, it reaches the axon terminals. Then the axon terminals will release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, which would bind to receptors on the downstream neuron. These receptors open channels in the neuron that let ions go into the neuron, basically generating a small electric current. Once the electric current reaches a threshold, the neuron will fire. Enough background. So lets say I have two neurons, an upstream neuron and a downstream neuron. If I gently stimulate the upstream neuron, I see a small amount of current in the downstream neuron. **However**, if I strongly stimulate the upstream neuron, then wait, then gently stimulate the upstream neuron, I measure a much stronger current in the downstream neuron. In other words. if I gently stimulate a neuron a bunch of times, I keep seeing a small current. However, if I strongly stimulate a neuron, then gently stimulate it, I see **stronger** currents. If I shock the neuron again, future gentle stimulate cause even **stronger** currents. In other words, it seems that neurons become **more sensitive** if they are subjected to strong stimuli. Could it be that memories are strengthed this way? It's a pretty good idea. So how does it work? A quick background check again Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. AMPA and NMDA receptors are glutamate receptors on the dendrites of neurons. AMPA receptors are simple. When AMPA receptors bind to glutamate, they open an ion channel allowing Sodium to move into the cell, causing a slight current and making the cell more positive. NMDA receptors are a little different. When glutamate binds to NMDA receptors, they'll open, but nothing can pass through them. This is because there is a magnesium ion blocking the ion channel. However, if the cell becomes positive enough, then the magnesium ion will be released, and the ion channel will open. This would let sodiuim **and** calcium into the cell. So it's easy to see that typically, AMPA receptors open, allowing sodium into the cell, making it more positive. If enough sodium ions move into the cell, it becomes positive enough that NMDA receptors release their magnesium ions and let sodium and calcium into the cell. This works because when calcium enters the cell, it increases the **number** of AMPA receptors on the dendrite, basically making the cell more sensitive to glutamate, thus strengthening the connection." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [ "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Neuron.svg/300px-Neuron.svg.png" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
d3xjfz
how a headphones/earphones can still function after going thru both washer and dryer?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "f05s8hg", "f05sb14" ]
[ "Headphones are pretty simple objects: you’ve got two wires going in, a resistor or two inline, then a magnet, sitting behind a diaphragm. As long as the diaphragm doesn’t rip and the dryer gets the electrical contacts dry, everything should still work fine." ]
[ 11 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7tway5
Why do washing machines have glass windows whereas the dishwashers don’t?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dtfpv3h" ]
[ "Washer machines has a load level, also, requires some supervision of the activity [i.e. Trying to open the door when water level is hight]. Dishwashers can't be \"overloaded\" neither visual inspection is needed." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
jd9jov
Why is it we still get dozens of calls a day from scammers? Don’t we have the tech to tell a spoof number and prevent it from coming through?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g97efat", "g96pcdr", "g96htno" ]
[ "It's not a technical problem but a legal one. As long as it's legal this will keep happening. This problem hardly exists in the EU because there are strict laws about these kinds of things." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ny8mnn
Why diseases get "stronger" at night?
Most times when i'm sick, i don't feel any symptoms at morning or noon, a commom cold for example won't show symptoms at morning but when the night falls, specially late at night, i get fever, clogged nose, coughing etc. Is it because the immunologic system is fighting the disease more at night, and the symptoms are the result of the "fight"?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "h1isez5", "h1j83ic" ]
[ "Symptoms are the body’s method of fighting disease. They make us miserable, but they work when the disease is minor. Like a fever makes your body less hospitable. We have less stress hormones at night so our immune systems kick into action." ]
[ 14 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ineqri
How do we know this is the most peaceful time across the world? What is this claim based on (evidence of war? Genocide? Interpersonal violence?)?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "g479v1j" ]
[ "Thanks to the Red Cross we have reasonably good statistics on the number of people, military and civilian, who have died due to armed conflict. Those numbers have been trending down. URL_0 ...of course, overall the 20th century was bloody as fuck because of two major instances of industrial war. Some of the optimism about peacefulness comes from the formation of groups like the EU, which (maybe! possibly! we hope!) make it less likely for historical conflicts to flare up again." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [ "https://ourworldindata.org/war-and-peace" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ib2zsi
Why hasn’t the Titanic been completely crushed by the water pressure at the depth of the wreck site?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "g1s9z0w" ]
[ "Water is a fluid, and fluids under pressure exert force in all directions. Since the *Titanic* is filled with high-pressure water inside and out, the water pressure on the outside of her walls is equal and opposite to the pressure on the inside. Therefore, the total force on the walls is zero. *Titanic* would only be susceptible to crushing if she was hollow and watertight." ]
[ 23 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
o85qf6
How do owners/creators of memes make money from them and how does a meme NFT buyer make money from their purchase?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "h331z2k" ]
[ "Imagine you own a piece of land. How do you sell that land to someone else? You can't take the land and put it in a bag and give it to someone. Instead, you write on a piece of paper: I sells this land to Susan. If Susan needs to sell the land, she shows the paper to the buyer, then adds another sheet of paper that says Susan sells the land to the new buyer. Now, the problem with this setup is that Tommy can show up with a sheet of paper that says Susan sold the land to him already and he owns the land! So, you and Susan register the land sales with a trusted third party which keeps a ledger of land sales. If Tommy shows up saying he owns the land, just look in the ledger and see who owns the land. An NFT is just a digital way of doing the transfer documents and ledgers using computers. It uses Blockchain tech which is basically a digital ledger that is nearly impossible to fake (as in Tommy can't break into the ledger and insert his name in there.) So, an NFT for a meme is just the same idea of transferring ownership of something that can't be physically owned like land or the rights to a video or picture that can be copied easily on a computer. The NFT just takes care of the ledger and records of transfers. A similar thing could be done without technology with lawyers and a contract saying the rights to the meme are being sold. How do you make money? You can make money selling whatever people will buy. I can sell you air, if you are willing to pay for it. I can sell you my soul if you are willing to pay for it. A meme creator can sell someone an NFT to the rights of the meme if someone will pay for it. Of course, someone needs to confirm that the meme creator is who they say they are and that the NFT being sold can be traced to the original creator or rights holder. But after that, every transfer of the NFT can be digitally confirmed and traced." ]
[ 15 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
a2unwr
How did the phrase “put down” come about for animal euthanasia?
Culture
explainlikeimfive
[ "eb1b246" ]
[ "Apart from the usual euphemistic language surrounding death, killing a largish animal like a cow or horse, literally puts them down onto the ground." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6zanlh
How do extreamly high voltage powerline workers operate on live wires without getting killed?
I was browsing youtube when URL_0 shows up. looks cool so I click. that got me thinking, you can clearly see that the wire is live as when he almost touches the wires with that antenna and you can see the electricity jumping. He then procedes to touch and operate on the wire. How can he do that, and why does he make sure that the electricity is jumping to that antenna?
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "dmtsm2v", "dmtsdsq" ]
[ "Workers on the high tension lines, **insulate** themselves from the ground and then attach to the line. This brings them up to the same voltage as the line. Electricity only flows from high voltage to low voltage so if the workers are the same voltage as the line, then electricity won't flow into them." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9cj3o9
How does a circular rainbow occur?
Something like this: URL_0
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "e5b3a6y", "e5b3ryi" ]
[ "It is always circular. You just don't see the lower part of the circle in the \"classical\" rainbow, as it is covered up by ground." ]
[ 12 ]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon\\)", "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OyYk_hGQzsc/TpCLYkUOssI/AAAAAAAAAM8/6XpiHnabV3w/s1600/rainbow-circle.jpg" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
c19bod
Why is preventing swelling important for healing injuries?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "erboy2s" ]
[ "Swelling/inflammation is how our bodies keep us from using an injured body part. Obviously, we want to avoid using an injured body part so that it can rest during the healing period. Inflammation does \\*\\*not\\*\\* help the healing process, and our bodies very frequently go way overboard on the whole matter. We swell too much, for too long, and it can actually cause our muscles to deteriorate. It can become a chronic problem (if untreated), and then affect us for our whole lives, which can atrophy our muscles and/or make them much harder to use, long after the healing is complete. Because our ability to treat injuries has become so advanced, we want to fix up the injury as best as possible and then reduce the swelling/inflammation so our bodies can go through the natural healing process without having to worry about those problems listed above. A broken bone can be reset and mended far more efficiently in the operating room than in \"the wild.\" We cut down healing time dramatically through modern medicine and surgery. & #x200B; tl;dr Swelling isn't a bad thing on its own, but modern healing techniques make it less useful and sometimes harmful. It's better to fix the problem, toss some pain killers down your throat, splint it up, and tell you not to move it." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
kay6zm
What makes honey non-turn-bad-able?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "gfdegp0", "gfdeels" ]
[ "High sugar content acts as a preservative (the same way canning fruit in syrup does). Microbes (like most cells) are bags of water with a membrane that balances the amount of \"free water\". Something like honey has very little \"free water\", so the water moves out of the microbe. But because the difference is so extreme, there's not enough water left in the microbe. Some honey also contains antibacterial compounds and various enzymes that make life unpleasant for microbes." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
cfcf7x
why do you need to bring your temperature down?
I read somewhere that the reason our temp rises when we are sick is to help out immune system. if so, why try to lower it
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "eu8ysdp", "eu8zi4v", "eu8yfcr", "eu9407g" ]
[ "Up to a point, having a fever is a good thing when you're fighting an infection as in the case of sepsis (infection in the blood). Many pathogens don't fare well in even a degree or two of average raised temperature, while your body is much more resilient. It's still a pretty serious condition on its own, and sepsis is frequently fatal regardless of the not only the body's attempts to fight it, but with medical intervention. The problems in general however, start when the fever is too high, or just high for too long. Your body will release something called chaperone molecules that help your proteins fold correctly, but there will still be errors and it's more energetically expensive. This chaperone molecules also have limits, and past a certain point your body fails on a number of levels. For one, a lot of what your cells do is interact with, transport, and produce proteins. The function of a protein is determined by its three dimensional structure, and it gets that through a process of folding. This is a process which can go wrong, and heat makes it far more likely to go wrong. Past a certain point critical proteins will start to unfold (denature) as in exposure to cooking methods. Needless to say, this does you no favors. For another, most fevers are not in response to something like sepsis (outside of admissions in a hospital at least), they're the result of either the disease-causing organism (pathogen) releasing molecules which cause your body to develop a fever (pyrogens) or an immune response by your body. In the former case the magnitude of the infection can cause a release of these molecules so great that your temperature-regulating system is utterly overwhelmed. In the latter case your body's inflammatory signaling systems can go haywire, causing runaway inflammation and fever; this is called cytokine storm and it's a potentially fatal condition. Ebola is often thought to kill as a result of cytokine storm, in humans at least. So you need to manage a fever, first and foremost by identifying its cause and treating it appropriately. This will inevitably take time, and the sicker the patient the more time it will take. During this time you could develop cardiac problems, your metabolism could be seriously disrupted leading to many bad side effects, and you could suffer lasting brain damage from seizures, even coma or death. As a result with a bad enough fever you treat the infection, modulate the immune system response if necessary/possible, and then just try to bring the temperature down. Alcohol, cold water baths, and even infusions of cold IV fluids can all be used. tl;dr Unless you're septic, it isn't generally helpful for your immune system to suffer under a fever, and it can cause organ damage, damage to the blood, damage to the brain, and even death." ]
[ 68 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
5ydai1
Why people rush to board an airplane?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dep474a", "dep4b58", "dep4um2", "dep5vbw", "dep43iv", "dep43q8" ]
[ "The space in the overhead bins is often scarce, and even when it is not, people often fill them inefficiently, keeping a jacket or something first. Most people do not want to check-in their carry-on and hence the rush to board the plane first." ]
[ 14 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7ec6ps
How a music video is shot in slow motion, but the singer’s lips are synced with the audio
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dq3xlq8", "dq3y3c0" ]
[ "Increase the song tempo, have artist lip sync, slow video. Words will be at correct speed, everything else will move in slow motion. It's a really cool effect, and not to hard to do, just some math to calculate the BPM's." ]
[ 10 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cqqqq
The importance behind referencing works in specific styles. Is it really better than just writing down a website or book name?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dhwqmxz", "dhwov3j" ]
[ "Practically speaking, the 2 most important things about citations (both in text and in a list of references) are: 1) That you provide enough information that someone could easily find the source you're using. This means including article and journal titles, volume numbers and page numbers for journals, edition numbers, relevant page numbers, and editors or authors for texts, etc. When you're new to citations (i.e. when you are a student) you're much more likely to leave out important information, which is why teachers tell you to follow a particular style. If you leave pertinent information out of your citation, at the very least, your teacher/professor will be super grumpy about it but kind enough to google the source. At worst, they'll just act like you didn't cite it in the first place. Option B is quite bad for you, and even option A might affect your grade (grumpy profs are less forgiving and generous. I know this firsthand). 2) Your citations must be internally consistent, meaning that the journal titles, article titles, page numbers, volume numbers etc. are always in the same order within each citation, and that the citations be ordered in the same way relative to each other. Again, this is important so that your teacher/professor/reader can quickly figure out what source goes with what bit of information without having to go on an information safari. In all of the STEM fields I have experience with, the citation style actually changes depending on what journal you're writing for (i.e. we don't use APA or MLA styles). Each journal has their own preferences and they provide directions and templates to accommodate their styles. If you're writing for an internal paper, you can just make up your style, assuming (again) that it provides sufficient information and is internally consistent. As long as you're in school though, none of that matters. You need to do what your teacher/professor tells you to do because they're the ones grading your work." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8sckbj
How does the underground ecosystem of a cemetery compare to that of a normal, untouched field of grass?
Do all of those caskets and bodies, along with the constant excavation, change the habitat for whichever insects or creatures live inside the ground at cemeteries? Does that type of environment bring new creatures that would not usually be there?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "e0ydme3", "e0yhlyt", "e0z6adi", "e0yqw31" ]
[ "Most modern graves place the coffin in a sealed vault, so there would be little impact to the environment, beyond having a bunch of concrete in the ground now. Even with vaults, bodies buried in a cemetery represent a tiny fraction of the ecosystem there and remain biologically active for a very short time. Having a regularly watered lawn likely has a much greater impact than the bodies do." ]
[ 37 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
iblww5
From where those little insects come out of nowhere when you, for example leave an apple not fully eaten
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g1wllvp", "g1wkhdt" ]
[ "I'm no biologist, but I do know that flies can smell decomposition from over a mile away. [Over 4 miles in the right conditions.]( URL_0 .)" ]
[ 5 ]
[ [ "https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/how-far-can-flies-smell-food#:~:text=Seven%20kilometres%20is%20not%20only,rotting%20meat%20over%20long%20distances" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bsm778
How is a glass of wine everyday good for you? :)
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "eoocuru", "eoob79f" ]
[ "It is not. There is proof to suggest that the antioxidants in wine are good for you. But with that said, current consensus is that *any* alcohol is bad for you, and for virtually all drinks, the downsides outweigh any upsides. Drinking is always bad and should be avoided for optimal health." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
easyb3
why when you shake up a closed salad, items such as cucumbers tend to group together, even if they are separated pre shake?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "faxgs7d", "fawzzc1" ]
[ "Weight. The heavier items will tend to group together from having roughly the same mass, shape, size etc." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6soaxj
How does showering get rid of radiation?
I just read that you can shower to rid yourself of any radiation if a nuclear attack were to happen, but how does showering get rid of radiation?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dle9mqj" ]
[ "Because the bomb irradiates dust and debris and kicks it into the atmosphere; when you shower you wash off radioactive dust that might be clinging to you." ]
[ 22 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
dmj2kk
If sleep runs in 90min cycles, then how does a shorter nap help people?
Seems like a 40min nap is all I need sometimes.
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "f510tof" ]
[ "It doesn’t, not as much as a full sleep cycle. Just like a small snack of goldfish crackers is not going to replace a meal, but it might take the edge off your hunger for a few hours, and make you feel better temporarily." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8gbfvh
Why aren't you allowed have contact with an organ donor for years after the transplant?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dyab99x", "dyaex1t", "dyaignl", "dybvef0" ]
[ "I'm actually in the middle of all my tests to donate one of my organs, so I had this conversation somewhat recently with my coordinator. It depends on the particular hospital and program you are using, but you absolutely can have contact between donor and recipient if both agree to it. The initial contact is organized through the transplant center, so that neither side feels \"obligated\" to talk to the other if they don't want to. If both agree, then it is off to the races. Some people choose not to, though. You have to go through _a lot_ of psychological testing to donate because they want to ensure that you aren't going to be upset if the recipient doesn't live their life in a way you feel is \"befitting\" the gift you gave them. Recipients may not want that kind of pressure, or they may not want to talk to them out of guilt or a sense of debt. It is a really personal decision and I can totally understand why people may not want to be contacted." ]
[ 194 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
dlm7eg
What makes honey unspoilable?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "f4rrvro", "f4rnmu0", "f4rtog7", "f4s3ny5", "f4rqa4y", "f4so1se" ]
[ "Because the sugar in honey is heavily concentrated, it has a low [Water Activity Level. ]( URL_0 ) Despite the fact that it contains water, it is effectively too dry for organisms to grow in it and it causes their cells to become dehydrated until they stop functioning. However, being dehydrated isn't necessarily fatal for many organisms, it just stops their metabolism and stops them from growing. This is called *Cryptobiosis*. If you mix honey with a certain amount of water, however, it will begin to ferment, creating *Mead*. In fact, honey typically contains a variety of microorganisms such as yeasts, fungi, various bacteria. These are picked up by bees from their environment. Honey, being a natural product, isn't sterile. **EDIT**: for this reason honey is sometimes used to begin a sourdough bread culture. Infants have sometimes been known to contract certain diseases such as Tetanus, Botulism, or *Clostridium difficile* Colitis from honey. **EDIT:** these are rare to be sure but life threatening when they do occur. These are all caused by bacteria in the genus *Clostridium* that tend to be common in the soil but can only grow in low oxygen conditions. These bacteria produce spores that can withstand dryness for years or even decades. Once they reach the intestines of s young child, this gives those bacterial spores an ideal low oxygen environment in order to grow. Infants don't have the same diversity of gut bacteria that older children and adults do, and their immune systems aren't well developed. This allows *Clostridium* bacteria to overgrow and begin to produce toxic proteins that can cause life threatening diseases. For this reason infants shouldn't be given honey until about 12 months. In normal adults the intestines are already heavily crowded with normal gut bacteria, and *Clostridium* can't grow easily." ]
[ 265 ]
[ [ "https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/inspection-technical-guides/water-activity-aw-foods" ], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
imc418
How do we know ancient astronomers observed the supernova of the Crab Nebula in 1054 A.D.?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "g3yme6y", "g3yp6k7" ]
[ "We have Chinese and Arabic sources that describe the event. I'm not sure about European sources. Edit: also ancient isn't really the right adjective here but that's besides the point." ]
[ 13 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
kazyk7
why does hydroxide have a charge? arent covalent compounds suppose to have no charge?
please dont go too deep im only 10th grade
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "gfdrj4z", "gfdqci3" ]
[ "Atoms bond because they want more or fewer electrons than they start with. By sharing their electrons (covalent bond), O and H end up with more. This would give them a neutral charge, but it's not enough for them. OH wants one more electron, so they \"steal\" it from another atom. An extra electron gives them one more negative particle than their total positive particles (protons) giving them a 1- charge and making them an ion, a polyatomic ion. Of course, whoever they stole that extra electron from is now a positive ion, and since opposites attract, they're probably going to hookup. And like any such relationship, it's going to be a pretty weak connection and will only last until they find the next ion to hook up with. O and H though, that's a solid bond built on mutual sharing that will be hard to break. O and H are like Bonnie and Clyde, always stealing shit, and being romanticized by the people they stole from (the positive ions), and leaving chaos in their wake (OH- tends to be pretty reactive)." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
brdrzf
How can an 2D animated movies or shows have multiple animators whilst maintaining a consistent art style?
I understand how you can have one person for background art, or one person for basic sketching and another for colouring etc, but surely this would take too long to animate with only a small group.
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "eocrxci", "eocqov9", "eocsm7i", "eocqqog" ]
[ "Professional animators are a talented bunch - they can draw in just about any style they'd like. For their own work, they may choose a unique style, but when they are part of a team, they'll work within the parameters set by the lead animator. It's much the same way a good studio musician can play a vareity of genres well, even though they prefer one particular style when performing original compositions. Talented and trained people can do amazing things." ]
[ 12 ]
[ [], [], [ "http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/aladdin-jafar.jpg", "https://www.factinate.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FotoJet-16-2.png" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
gn63zz
Where does the genetic information for fingerprints come from?
I mean like the DNA for fingerprints. Is it a mixture of mom/dad or is there something in our genetic code that randomizes it? Or am I completely mistaken and it's something else?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fr7sv1o" ]
[ "Fingerprints aren't genetic. Well, their existence is, but not the actual pattern - identical twins for example have different fingerprints. The pattern is simply formed by our development in the womb." ]
[ 10 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6lj3gr
Why does one get so tired after spending time in the sun?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dju93z6" ]
[ "Our metabolism and heart rate increase when it's hot, and our body works harder to regulate our body temperature. For instance, one thing it does is produce sweat to help cool down the body -- that requires energy. The more energy you spend, the more tired you feel." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
fq30yy
How do glasses and binoculars work?
How can you just bend glass and it fixes your vision, or how does glass makes everything seem closer or further with binoculars
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "floc77j", "flofjl1" ]
[ "The curviture of the lenses bends light through refraction. Light travels slower through glass than air. Think of it like if you drive a car through a puddle. The tires that went through the puddle would slow down and cause the car to turn if you weren't holding onto the wheel. Same thing with refraction. This bending of light changes the size of the image we see." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
mv2eww
Negative interest rate
What is negative interest rate ?? When a bank has to set negative interest rates?? Secondly is it good for the debters and bad for depositors??
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "gv9kke2" ]
[ "[Negative Interest Rates]( URL_0 ): > ...occur when borrowers are credited interest rather than paying interest to lenders [...] With negative interest rates, central banks charge commercial banks on reserves in an effort to incentivize them to spend rather than hoard cash positions. That last bit is important. Wells Fargo will never have negative interest rates on loans to consumers. That'd be like them paying us to borrow money. This answers your last question. Directly, no, to both. But, *if*, for whatever crazy reason, negative interest rates were to impact consumers, those who borrow would pay back less than they borrowed, while those you lennd would get back less than they lent. A central bank like Federal Reserve can set negative interest rates on reserve requirements instead. The purpose of setting negative interest rates is to stimulate the economy by encouraging banks to lend excess reserves. As someone else said in another comment, some central banks in other countries have negative interest rates. Stimulating the economy is why. The reason a central bank would set a negative interest rate is because lowering the interest rate is usually how they stimulate the economy. Intuitively, 0% interest encourages spending to the max. If you spend $100 now, then it's exactly equal to spending $100 in a month, when interest rates are still at 0%. So, you might as well get what you want now instead of saving it. Sometimes, though, banks don't do that. They keep holding onto money. Consider the 2008 financial crisis. Banks got bailed out with a massive injection. They were awash in excess reserves! The interest rate had fallen to 0% pretty quickly as it does in a recession. The Federal Reserve expected them to lend the extra money ....but the banks held onto it and didn't lend until they felt comfortable with the risk. The economy recovered at a significantly slower pace because of it. If the Fed had set negative interest rates, it would have made banks *more* eager to lend. Why pay extra money for holding money when you don't have to? So, yeah. Here's a summary: 1. It's a rate to incentivize banks to lend money and for consumers to spend money 2. Negative interest rates are set when people are especially reluctant to lend and spend. 3. It's good for people that spend/borrow, and not as good for people that save/lend." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [ "https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/negative-interest-rate.asp" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
98lq36
Could someone safely land in just a wing suit? Is there a maximum height of initial decent in which survival would be possible? What are some other factors that would increase or decrease the likelihood of surviving?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "e4gyfig", "e4gy6kh", "e4gy622" ]
[ "Not exactly an explanation but it's definitely been done. Here's one where the guy landed on water: URL_0 There's another where a guy did it into a bunch of boxes so not quite as impressive." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [ "https://youtu.be/o2xmAWS4akE?t=104" ], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
lr8ej9
Why are antennas half a wavelength long?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "goo20ee" ]
[ "Not all antennas are a half wavelength. A simple antenna is just a piece of wire or metal that is cut to resonate with the frequency. The frequency is inversely proportional to the wave length. Lower the frequency the longer the antenna, higher the frequency the shorter the antenna. An antenna cut to one wavelength for wifi would be 12.5 cm long. You could put that on your router and it wouldn’t be a big deal. An antenna cut for AM radio at 770kHz would be 390 meters tall. That would be impractical to install anywhere especially if you just want to listen to talk radio." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
hhm1ii
Why are clouds flat at the base of them? At times, it seems like they are resting on a surface, all at the same altitude, why?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "fwau3hi", "fwb4bu9" ]
[ "You are referring to cumulus clouds, the most common daytime clouds in the summer sky. Morning sunshine warms the ground, and most of that heat transfers into the air immediately above, forming a layer of warm air several hundred feet in depth. If the temperature of the heated layer surpasses a critical value, as it invariably does, currents of warm air begin to ascend, carrying water vapor along. Because air pressure decreases at the rate of 0.91 inches per 1,000 feet of ascent, rising air expands and cools. The flat bottom of cumulus clouds defines the exact height at which a critical combination of temperature and air pressure causes water vapor within the rising current to condense into a visible cloud. URL_0" ]
[ 66 ]
[ [ "https://www.chicagotribune.com/weather/ct-wea-0720-asktom-20150719-column.html" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ftwupf
why does soda fizz a lot when you pour it into a glass, but sparkling water doesn’t? They’re both carbonated, is it just different because of the sugar?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "fm9oz4k", "fma7o7s", "fma907r", "fm9p3us", "fmadx9b", "fmagfcg", "fmb8xfy", "fmaotpz", "fmadj4k", "fmaf85y" ]
[ "Soda is filled with sucrose which disrupts the hydrogen bonds in the liquid. Alcohol, sugar and salt all play a role in weakening these bonds which opens more pathways for carbon dioxide to escape. That's why champagne loses its fizz quicker than sparkling water as well. Edit: Hi ELI5 community; my inbox has been blowing up, and I've literally been at this post for 14 hours straight, so I wanted to add some things that may clarify additional (and repeated) questions. 1. Please remember, this is ELI5 and in that spirit I am painting with a VERY broad brush for a basic overview of these reactions. I didn't address this question on AskScience 2. Why do you keep saying hydrogen bonds and not surface tension and/or solubility? Think of them as interchangeable terms (see item 1): URL_12 (also van der Waals forces) URL_3 URL_10 URL_7 3. Why do you say it's only sugar, salt and alcohol that breaks the bonds? It's not, there are many additives and even water imperfections that cause the carbon dioxide to fall out of solution.(see item 1) 4. I don't like your second post analogy! Sorry, but too bad... I'm not a writer. If you got the gist of it through either of the posts then it did the job. 5. Why do I experience X when you said Y? Chemistry is testable, observable and repeatable in a controlled environment then it gets sent out into an imperfect world. I can't account for environmental variables, including: elevation (yes, that matters here), manufacturer's formulas (they very well can saturate the solution with more carbon dioxide than their competitor), cup you poured it in, ice you used, how much you hate carbonated beverages, etc...see item 1. 6. What about beer foam and champagne? I'm not addressing head on beer, just the 'fizzyness' of the different drinks but protein chains help to form the foam structure; \"Beer is a complex mixture of over 450 constituents and, in addition, it contains macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids. In beer, several different protein groups, originating from barley, barley malt, and yeast, are known to influence beer quality. Some of them play a role in foam formation and mouthfeel, and others are known to form haze and have to be precipitated to guarantee haze stability, since turbidity gives a first visual impression of the quality of beer to the consumer. These proteins are derived from the malt used and are influenced, modified, and aggregated throughout the whole malting and brewing process.\" URL_11 Champagne is served in a champagne flute for a reason, see /u/cab354's fun fact! 7. What about diet soda, why doesn't it fizz as much? Diet soda uses sweeteners that are much sweeter than sugar, so less needs to be used. Less used, less nucleation sites. 8. What are nucleation sites? Wikipedia 9. Why does ice and Mentos make things super fizzy/violent? Ice isn't all that smooth, the water layer on top is what actually makes it slick (that's how ice skates work). The rough surface of ice, relative to tiny molecules, create nucleation sites in the water where the bubbles are able to form. If you look closely, there are tiny bubbles clinging to the surface of your ice cube, that's the carbonation. Add that to the general agitation of the drink by dropping a solid into it and you have fizz producing actions on two fronts. Believe it or not, the Mentos reaction NOT a chemical reaction but the same physical reaction as ice, but the surface of a Mentos is super rough, creating more of those nucleation sites for the carbon dioxide to fall out of solution. There is no magic chemical in the candy, it's just a texture thing. It works better in diet Coke because there is less sweetener in it to naturally create these nucleation sites (aspartame is a very effective sweetener) Here is an article on the Mentos and Coke reaction: URL_8 10. How do you know all this? It's highly related to my job. 11. Is there a better explanation than what you have given me? URL_9 12. Why do you have so many grammar/spelling mistakes? I've been at this post for 14 hours (and see item 4) 13. Do they have to be squares or can they be triangles? (in reference to my second post analogy: shout out to /u/dvorahtheexplorer) They can be tetrahedrons if ionized, that's basically 4 triangles stuck together! 4X the triangles! 14. What was that thing about ionization? Not mine: URL_2 15. Why does my coke act differently than this when I pour it into my (alcoholic beverage of choice) Introducing the solution to alcohol is different than having a carbonated alcoholic solution. The order chemicals are introduced to and in a solution are very important in chemistry. Here are a few starter resources as a jumping off point as I am only capable of this hyper-simplified explanation right now (been at this post for almost 12 hours straight): URL_0 URL_6 16. So if you put X in sparkling water/seltzer/fizzy water it would fizz up? Oh yeah, in any carbonated drink! Here's a fun experiment to live vicariously through YouTube until your isolation is complete (and thanks for self-isolating, it helps me keep my team and me healthy and your power and water running!): URL_1 17. Aside from things that won't mix with water or rare exceptions, anything that isn't water reduces water's ability to hold CO2 with stability. - not a question but put so simply and elegantly by /u/Gibborim I had to include it! 18. Is this why sparkling water fizz feels a lot stronger? Yup, mouth feel is a hell of a thing! 19. Anything medical: Nope, not a Dr. 20. What about temperature? See /u/ThMogget , A cold solution will hold their bonds much better than a warm one. Remember, temperature is one of the byproducts of atoms in an excited state. 21. What about fizzy mineral water? Mineral water usually has salts and sulfurs in it, it's actually just a fancy pants way of saying it's spring water that hasn't gone through some sort of purification process (like reverse osmosis). These imperfections in the water break those hydrogen bonds just like sugar so depending on where the spring is and how many impurities (minerals) there are in the source, they could very well be just as fizzy. Good way to test the purity of beverages is to let them go flat, like completely flat, but protected from outside contaminates (like dust) and put it in the freezer for a few hours. If it's super pure, it will stay in liquid form until you agitate it (give it a knock). That will introduce nitrogen (most of the air we breathe) and create a nucleation point for the water to form crystals around. You will literally see ice rapidly form in front of you. Check out these two super short videos: URL_5 URL_4 22. It's not the sugar! It is the sugar. Now go brush your teeth. 23. But it's sugar free! OK, but it's not additive and impurity free (see item 8 and still go brush your teeth) 24. You are misleading people by omitting X,Y, and Z! See item freaking 1 25. Are you a teacher? Nope, not anymore – but I was in Japan, Germany and Korea for a long time. 26. It's about the carbon dioxide saturation level. Saturation of carbon dioxide is indeed a huge contributing factor, but it's not the mechanism by which it's released from solution. 27. Could you explain the effects with alcohol more? I’m a bartender and noticed how there are far less bubbles when the liquor is in the cup first (Shout out to /u/kitcatpaddywhack and first direct addressing of surface tension) Basically all the same as sugar. The difference between bottles and open air is pressure. To go with the house analogy, the bottle (or keg, or can) is like a tarp over the holes that the termites ate in the roof. They keep the pressure in the house and help hold the roof together so the balloons can't get out. Notice that if you pour some carbonated beverage on the ground, it goes flat much quicker than in an open cup, even though both are exposed to open air? That's because the gaps between the molecules are further apart allowing the pressure to regulate quicker. 28. Part of that is probably because alcohol has a much weaker surface tension than water, meaning it isn't nearly as capable of holding bubbles. When you mix alcohol into anything, it'll go flat much quicker. That's why it's impossible to buy anything fizzy stronger than maybe 13%. (Shoutout to /u/XMilkyMoo) Right, not only does it dilute the solution but it weakens the bonds (surface tension). For a more in depth dive, take a look at competition between van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds in relation to an alcohol solution (you will probably have to replace alcohol with ethanol for the right research papers). I know my wording is way off, but Google scholar will get the gist. 29. See item 1" ]
[ 3134 ]
[ [ "https://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bonding/hbond.html", "https://youtu.be/XczcDe7_sLE", "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4175435/", "https://socratic.org/questions/how-do-hydrogen-bonds-affect-solubility", "https://youtu.be/Fot3m7kyLn4", "https://youtu.be/NMSxuORKynI", "https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Winona_State_University/Klein_and_Straumanis_Guided/13%3A_Alcohols_and_Phenols/13.1%3A_Physical_Properties_of_Alcohols%3B_Hydrogen_Bonding#Solubility_of_alcohols_in_water", "http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/water_hydrogen_bonding.html", "https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-coke-mentos/", "https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/hydrogen-bonds-keep-soda-fizzy-for-longest/3008613.article", "https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Book%3A_CLUE_(Cooper_and_Klymkowsky)/6%3A_Solutions/6.3%3A_Hydrogen_Bonding_Interactions_and_Solubility", "https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226773564_Protein_changes_during_malting_and_brewing_with_focus_on_haze_and_foam_formation_A_review", "https://www.cscscientific.com/surface-tension" ], [], [], [], [], [ "https://qz.com/300351/inside-the-44-page-menu-of-americas-only-water-sommelier/amp/" ], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7799pg
Why are some pimples filled with liquid goo and some with like a piece of goo?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dok384i", "doki7pa", "dok4ier", "dokihvh", "doklh7e", "dok31db" ]
[ "clear goo is going to be mostly blood plasma, and white goo is pus or mostly white blood cells (they're dead after killing off the bacteria that got into your skin) \"safe\" is a relative word when you talk about squeezing them. the big problem with doing it is the pimple is there because that site was teeming with bacteria that got into your system and your immune system is fighting it off. If you pop it, there's still probably a lot of bacteria around there, so you risk infection (or prolonging the existing problem). If you don't mind using a pin or needle (that you've sterilized) and you've washed the area, you can pop them that way with less chances of scarring and greater infection. Putting something like neosporin on it will help too. If the choice is between just popping it with your fingers (and no other prep) and letting it go away on its own, you're probably better off letting it go away on its own. Most of the time, you'll not get an infection or scarring if you pop it, but this is the choice you have to make." ]
[ 1602 ]
[ [], [ "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DMANU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9ta6zb78C5FM" ], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
5r8hwk
What were lobotomies supposed to cure, and how exactly were they performed?
I've always been curious about why exactly lobotomies were supposed to be helpful, but I've never really gotten a clear, concise answer.
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dd57m4p" ]
[ "Lobotomies were based on the theory that there are certain parts of the brain that cause certain psychological problems. What a lobotomy does is hope to cut away that piece of brain that causes the issue without Damaging or killing the patient. The patient was kept under local anaesthesia and with surgical tools your skull was cut open. After that in a perfectly concious state, you were asked to answer some questions as they give minute electric shocks so the doctors don't cut the wrong part of the brain.Ex- a picture would be placed in front of you and you will be asked what it is, to check if you can still see. After cutting. The part causing issue was taken out and the skull was bolted on with rivets and the skin sticthed back on. The success or failure of the operation is irrelevant to the question but the patient was disfigured due to the surgery." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
i6wj4i
How does the ZFS raid allow for just a small number of drives to be used for copies of data and guarantee that data won't be lost in case of failure?
What I mean is that according to linus tech tips, if you have five hard drives, you can dedicate one of them and it can guarantee that if any one drive fails, no data is lost. I just don't understand how that works. How come you don't need the same amount of backup storage as normal storage to guarantee that? How can it store a backup copy in a fraction of the space?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g0yg2xu" ]
[ "For a RAID setup with 5 hard drives and single parity, each block of data you store in the RAID array is divided into 4 parts. From these 4 parts, a 5th part called the parity information is calculated (see URL_0 for a non-ELI5 explanation of this step). If you lose any 1 of the 4 parts of your data, the remaining 4 parts (3 original + 1 parity) can be used to determine what the missing part is. This gives you limited protection against data loss in the event of a hard drive failure. If you can replace that hard drive and let the RAID array rebuild the missing data before any more hard drive failures occur, you can avoid data loss. But if another hard drive fails before the rebuild can be completed, you would not be able to recover the unrebuilt data since you would not have enough parts to do so." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [ "https://blog.open-e.com/how-does-raid-5-work/" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
65hc4u
If water is more dense than oil, then how do you dilute oil with water?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "dgaakkv" ]
[ "you don't really. oil and water don't mix, so you'll just end up with a mixture instead of a more dilute solution. you can thin oil by mixing it with a oil of a lower viscosity." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
mm6up5
How exactly does soap clean our skin?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "gtpj8hp", "gtpjha2" ]
[ "Water is good at cleaning some things because those things interact with the water more favorably than they do your skin. When water washes over your skin that stuff binds to the water and leaves with it. However, there are other things that interact with your skin more favorably than water. these won't, for the most part, leave just because some water comes by. Soap consists of molecules that have two very different ends. One end interacts well with water while the other end interacts well with stuff that doesn't interact well with water. This means it can basically act like a chain connecting the water rushing by to this stuff that water normally doesn't interact with too much." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
lklicd
how are people able to hack into webcams and spy on other people?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gnkfd39" ]
[ "Because the people who set them up, don't use secure passwords, and so when a hacker finds the device they just try commonly used passwords, and get in. People are warned over and over to use secure passwords, but they don't because its hard to remember. Also, many companies have 2 factor authentication, but people don't want to be bothered with it because they are lazy. Only you can protect yourself." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
k335k0
how can our body accurately measure its own temperature for sweating and other reactions?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gdz8sqy" ]
[ "To make it simple, imagine that there are sensors (nerves) this guys can feel what it's going on the outside and inside, so they send the info to the brain and he makes the decition on what to do, if there is to much hot or cold. Edit cuz spanish native, autocorect some words." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
dtpt9r
How would a country prepare for inflation and how do they keep the value of their money from crashing once they receive said money?
I was watching crash course world history and learned about how the Spanish economy crashed in the 16th century because "they did not prepare for inflation" after the discovery of a mountain full of silver. How would one prepare for inflation and how would they keep the value of their money up once they received said money?
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "f6y3d31" ]
[ "Currency is a representation of wealth that make is easier to trade. So you have a supply and demand where demand is the wealth, because the more wealth we have the more we want to trade, and currency is the supply because we need it to trade. So if you increase your currency, that mean there is more supply than demand, so the value of your currency decrease that's inflation. Today we have a central bank that control the flow of new money to keep some balance between the wealth and the currency of the country. But in the past the currency was silver and gold so when the Spanish discovered a mountain full of silver, people were just happy, mined the silver and used it as currency, which increase the supply by a lot, which decrease the value of currency drastically aka high inflation. The spanish governement to be prepared for the inflation should have controlled the quantity of silver injected in the economy, to not flood the market. It's the same thing if a country today would start to print currency like crazy, this would drop the value of the currency aka inflation." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
n7xpj4
How does orbital dynamics work?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "gxfa3bm" ]
[ "Things in space have an attractive force called gravity. In contrast to celebrities, things with more mass have a more attractive force. Between two bodies, based on their relative mass, there’s a center of gravity. Those two bodies orbit around that one point. When considering things with divergent mass, it appears as though one thing is orbiting around the other thing (Sun/Earth, Earth/Moon). Here’s the issue, that’s for a two body problem. There is no closed mathematical solution for a three body problem (ie Sun, Earth, & Moon). Everything is pulling on everything (just like celebrities). The orbit of the moon around Earth is affected by both the sun and Jupiter. Just to varying degrees depending on the time of year." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
o2i4xf
Why do we have powdered sugar not powdered salt?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "h26k5gi", "h26kb65" ]
[ "Flour Salt, also called popcorn salt, is the powdered variant of salt crystal used by humans and looks very similar to powdered sugar when put in a bowl or on a plate. It is used for coating things in salt (such as popcorn) or when you want salt to dissolve very quickly in something and may not have time to heat it (such as with some sauces)." ]
[ 14 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
jv1nby
What is the difference between Data Warehouse and Data Lake?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gcgye66" ]
[ "Data Lake = throwing all your toys into a big pile in a room in your house. Data Warehouse = Putting all your toys in a neat and orderly fashion in a room, labeled and ready for use. Toys that don’t fit how things are organized are never brought into the room." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
5u6qtm
What occurs in America if the President is found to have won the election due to outside (of the US) interference?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "ddrr6t8", "ddrqth0", "ddrr00n" ]
[ "Nothing. The President can only be impeached if he himself has committed \"treason, bribery, [or] other high crimes and misdemeanors\". Being the beneficiary of the crimes of some other foreign government is not grounds for impeachment so long as they were acting without his knowledge or consent. If, however, it can be proven that he knowingly conspired with a foreign government to affect the election then he could be impeached and possibly found guilty of treason. Note: I am not a Trump supporter by any stretch of the imagination, simply acknowledging the reality of the situation." ]
[ 66 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
e4odad
why is the sky bright at night when snow is coming?
I am wondering why the sky is bright when it's going to snow. I tried to find the answer, but all I can find is stuff explaining why it's bright when there's snow on the ground or when snow is falling. I understand the snow reflects light (i'm pretty sharp for 5 lol), but I want to know why the sky is bright at night when there's no snow on the ground and it hasn't started snowing yet. Thank you in advance!
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "f9dw74i", "f9em3il" ]
[ "It's possible you have a lot of light pollution in your area. Keep an eye on the sky at the same time of night when rain is approaching or even if you have just have dense cloud cover. Where I am it's actually easier to see on a cloudy night compared to a clear night because the of the city lights reflecting off the clouds." ]
[ 11 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7vbi1h
NFL followers, why are there so many people on the sideline while the game is being played? What is their role? Novice at NFL here.
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dtqzt3i" ]
[ "Media people, cameramen, sound people, the other 80odd players not on the field, the coaching staff, the athletic trainer staff, the medical team, NFL officiating crew, security... Add it all up and you usually have several hundred people on the sideline of a typical NFL game. It takes a lot of people to make that kind of televised spectacle happen." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8fiobq
How did we create non biodegradable things like plastic from what I'd assume is biodegradable materials?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "dy3xqkl", "dy3vkpy", "dy4312a" ]
[ "Plastics have properties which make them resistant to biodegradation. Firstly, plastics are water resistant. Without moisture, bacteria/fungi cannot grow on it. Also, any digestive enzymes released by these organisms will be repelled from the surface. Secondly, producing plastics is very energy-inefficient compared to biological cellulose or other biomaterials. So nature has never bothered to evolve plastics and the enzymes to digest plastics. Also, plastics are very similar to wood (cellulose). When wood was first evolved, there were very few organisms capable of digesting it. This led to dead trees piling up everywhere and filling the earth with wood, which all eventually became coal. This period of earth’s history is the Carboniferous period, where almost all coal on earth came from this pile of dead trees. If plastics become as widespread as wood was, something will evolve to digest the abundant source of energy." ]
[ 57 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ims9mk
Why is there a separate bin for recycling, but it is tossed into the garbage truck with the regular trash?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "g42m5rt", "g42l1qb", "g42i34x", "g42iz5w" ]
[ "A lot of trash centers have what is called single stream recycling. So all types of recyclables go in together. And most trash centers separate recyclables because they can earn money from them. Until a few years ago when the world kinda stopped recycling. It's not really China's fault, but nobody is really stepping up to fill the capacity loss. Incan go into a lot more detail if you're interested." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
mn5trs
Why do we enjoy having blankets on us/need them to sleep?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gtvnixc", "gtvm3iw", "gtvr7kc" ]
[ "Using a blanket helps us to deal with our lower nightly core body temperatures. It also increases the serotonin and melatonin levels in our brain which helps relax us and fall asleep. Our circadian rhythm – that's our natural sleep rhythm – is a huge driver for our sleep" ]
[ 13 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6mwngk
How does an already established city just build an underground subway system?
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "dk4z1iv" ]
[ "There's a variety of techniques, but most modern cities use deep tunnel boring now which uses specially designed machines to dig the tunnels underneath everything else. This avoids most existing infrastructure and modern escalators and elevators mitigate the issue of getting people down so deep underground. Older subways, like those in New York, are mostly cut-and-cover where they took existing roads, tore them up, built the subway tracks, and replaced the roadway above it. This was mostly done in the early 1900s most tunnels built like this are only a few feet below the streets. Nowadays cut-and-cover isn't used as much there is already a lot of existing infrastructure that needs to be moved (and identified as to what it even is) and it's politically unpopular because it's very disruptive to traffic and local businesses." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
e4dwv6
How do both fusion and fission bombs create an exothermic reaction?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "f99c9ak", "f99cif2" ]
[ "Both fusion and fission can either require or release energy, it simply depends on which elements are being fused / fissioned. Lighter elements are easier to fuse together than to break apart, while heavier elements are easier to break apart than to fuse together. [This chart]( URL_0 ) demonstrates this." ]
[ 13 ]
[ [ "https://i.stack.imgur.com/PG3WB.gif" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
j1h8qs
How are news stations able to project which candidate will win a state after only counting 5% of the votes?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "g6z6viw", "g6zemsb" ]
[ "They compare it to the pre-election polls, and they do exit polls. If those two unofficial polls indicate a clear winner, and the 5% of votes counted align with those unofficial polls, then they feel safe calling the state. It's not official by any means, and no news station would ever call a state before polls close, so as not to affect people who haven't voted yet. But a state like California is never going to vote for Trump, so they can call it the second polls close." ]
[ 9 ]
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6gsjba
What is the difference between a burka, niqab and hijab? and why do some women choose to wear one over the others?
Culture
explainlikeimfive
[ "disp4ce", "disp9q3", "disthwe" ]
[ "Burka = Head to toe cover, including mesh over eyes Niqab = Head to toe veil, eyes show Hijab = Head cover, worn in addition to clothes. [see]( URL_0 )" ]
[ 15 ]
[ [ "http://www.abc.net.au/cm/lb/5785816/data/what-are-the-differences-between-the-burka%2C-niqab-and-hijab-data.jpg" ], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
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9sulri
How does ESP and crystal ball psychic readings work?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "e8rl6xc", "e8rky3x", "e8rmbfa", "e8rsudp", "e8rs3ku" ]
[ "Psychics use a technique known as cold reading. They watch to see how the mark reacts as they make vague pronouncements, then they get more specific as they discover what the mark wants to hear. The mark wants to be fooled which makes the process easier." ]
[ 25 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Million_Dollar_Paranormal_Challenge", "https://www.humintell.com/" ] ]
[ "url" ]
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9jjk9y
Why is the Pledge of Allegiance allowed in public schools if it includes the phrase “under God”?
Sure, it’s optional in some schools, but various supreme court cases have claimed that OPTIONAL religious activities (praying, etc.) are also not allowed in public schools. Why is the Pledge an exception?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "e6s0j98", "e6s2urv", "e6rzuaa" ]
[ "Okay there’s a couple ways I know how to answer this. Ask if it’s not enough. It was written without the statement, but in 1952 it was added (at least by my knowledge) in response to the Communist threat in the 1950s. Anti-Communists and evangelicals pushed the idea that god could be a banner to rally around against Communism. I personally think it was a silly way to fight the “godless Commies”...but that’s the story." ]
[ 15 ]
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da66um
Why in older animated movies are objects that characters interact with more pronounced than other objects in the scene?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "f1ngwn3" ]
[ "Older animation used painted backgrounds that were larger than the animated frame (called a cell) to make it easier to animate the whole film. Individual animation cells were then drawn on transparent sheets. When a branch (or other object) changes from just being a part of the background to being part of the animation, the animator would \"paint\" over the background usually resulting in a less detailed image (and the creation of a new background painting). The lack in detail is usually attributed to there being between 24 and 40 animation cells per second of animation and the demanding production schedule. Thus an animator would have to draw thousands of cells each day and would skip some finer details to keep up with the production schedule." ]
[ 15 ]
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6xb0l9
Take away game
My math teacher and I played a take away game that I've never really heard of, but I'm willing to bet some of the community has. Say you have N amount of sticks, you and another player have to take away sticks from the pile but can only draw 1-3 sticks at a time. The player that draws the last stick(s) wins. No one has beaten him at it before so I'm wondering what's the strategy behind this game.
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dmejr5c", "dmerf1m" ]
[ "The game is solved (as in a perfect strategy is known). Depending on the number of sticks in the initial pile either the first player will always win, or never win if both players play perfectly. [You're looking for the Nim game, or the subtraction game]( URL_0 )" ]
[ 7 ]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nim#The_subtraction_game_S.281.2C_2.2C_._._..2C_k.29" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
b6cadm
The difference between the degrees and the warm/cold settings on a split system air-conditioner.
Long time lurker, first time poster to ELI5. Apologies if I haven't titled this correctly. & #x200B; I am working in a small office today and we have set the air-conditioner to warm and 22C. But my co-worker and I questioned what is the difference between 22C warm and 22C cold. We just thought 22C is just 22C.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ejjf67j" ]
[ "Warm=keeping room temp above set temp Cool=keeping room temp below set temp The temp you set the thermostat to isn't necessarily going to be the room temp, it's just the temp that activates the system." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
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fryuxi
If oxygen is a part of water (H2O) and we need O2 to breathe, could we combine 2 molecules of water, separate it and breathe it? Do we even have that technology?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "flyie3p" ]
[ "It's called electrolysis and we use it all the time. All the process requires is electricity, water, and a few parts. Nuclear Submarines for example use this process to generate Hydrogen for Fuel and Oxygen to breath from salt water. The catch is Electrolysis requires a fair amount of electricity so it isn't practical for a lot of applications, but submarines have power to spare and limited resources so it becomes worth it." ]
[ 16 ]
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5yi3nj
How do our vocal cords create a voice that is different from everyone else's? How is the sound of our voice determined (aside from the obvious answer of our genes)?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "deqaw5k" ]
[ "It's controlled by our brains, including parts of the brain associated with physical/motion control, which we don't consciously think about and can't 100% control without practice. This is similar to how we naturally walk a bit different from other people, we can control our gait but usually don't think about it. Our brains, thoughts, etc are related to genetics but also shaped by our upbringing, development in our mothers' womb, random chance, etc. Accents for example are largely a symptom of how we're taught to speak and the people we observe as we're learning. And the vocal cords can be affected by environmental factors like smoking, eating/drinking or dehydration, etc." ]
[ 3 ]
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6xyhhh
What is a colour, I know what a colour is but, what makes a colour a colour? For instance why is a white piece of paper different to a black piece of paper to make it black?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dmjejml" ]
[ "Colour is what your eye sees in response to different frequencies of light. Things have different colours because they absorb all of the colours except the one you see, which is reflected at you." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
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mdwgsb
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "gsbsq6k", "gsc83oi" ]
[ "They have a microphone that picks up sound, amplifies it depending on the criteria set by the audiologist and then relays that to the wearers ear via a small speaker. The criteria for amplification is defined based on the results of a hearing test, so that only frequency bands that the user has difficulty hearing are amplified." ]
[ 5 ]
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f48hez
How do induction cooking work
I watched my mom cooked food with the induction cooktop several times but please explain how does it work, thanks
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fhopo04", "fhophxk", "fhp9z4m", "fhouy1j" ]
[ "Electrical friction essentially. Create a changing magnetic field under a metal pot. The electrons in the pot see the magnetic field and try to line up in it. The field keeps moving though and the electrons can’t keep up. They get dragged a bit and give off heat. Do this process rapidly and frequently enough and your metal pot starts to heat up." ]
[ 50 ]
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